EXTRACT – PATIENCE IN MINISTRY

… I am comforted when I am near the Lord. I do not know whether you have ever remarked this peculiarity of faith, that though you are assured when near the Lord, yet if you are at all distanced from Him, or your eyes on the difficulties, you have not this assurance, but you regain it when you are again near Him; you know that it is true. I have had interesting times, I might say, in every place that I have visited; I quite feel with you that we must be patient with others when we feel that we ourselves apprehend so slowly the immense scope of blessing presented to us. I see that the light and joy of a truth may very rapidly be apprehended, but until it masters you, you are not a master of it, that is, you cannot communicate it. I have been interested in seeing that we are fitted through the gospel to be companions of Christ and then united to Him. We are not united to Him and then made fit to enjoy His company, but we are first made fit, we are of His life and nature, then we are united to Him and able to enter into His interests. It is the perfection of love to be like its object; nothing can satisfy love but company. Union perpetuates it, the hearts who loved Him were glad when they saw Him.

I am greatly cheered amid all this controversy … He loves to come down to our weakest point and thus to make manifest the strength of His arm. Give the Lord always the first place and He will greatly honour you. He says, "I love them that love me", Prov.8:17.

J.B. Stoney Vol.12 p.452,453

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